ALBURY ruckman Ollie McEwan became the Tigers’ sixth winner of the Leo Burke Award this century when he romped to victory in the reserve grade count.
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McEwan, who played the opening round of the season in the seniors at Mulwala, polled 22 votes to finish seven clear of Wangaratta’s Aiden Bihun and Wodonga Raider Reece Corcoran.
The Yackandandah recruit joins Paul Wood (two), Corey Miller, Luke Daly and Bob Giffiths as Albury winners since 2001.
McEwan polled in 10 matches and was sorely missed by Albury in its narrow loss to Wodonga Raiders in Sunday’s preliminary final.
Two-time winner Ross Mulquiney finished third on 13 votes with leading goalkicker Jackson Carmody next on 12.
Meanwhile, a blistering start to the season paved the way for young Wangaratta Rovers ruckman Ed Dayman to take out the third grade best and fairest.
Dayman was best-on-ground in six of the opening nine rounds before spending time with the Murray Bushrangers and Hawks’ senior line-up.
He polled 20 votes to hold off Wangaratta’s Ben Bray (17) and Pigeon Jack Sexton (15).
Dayman’s win came after talented Hawk Paul Sanderson took out the Leo Dean Award in 2016 and 2017.
